Sunday, April 24 SUNDAY OF THE SAMARITAN WOMAN
8:30 AM God’s Blessings and Good Health for all Parishioners

Mother’s Day – Please remember your mother on Saturday, May 8th, envelopes are in your collection box for requests to be remembered in the Divine Liturgy.
Pentecost Sunday – blessings at the cemetery Sunday, May 15th. Request envelopes are also in your collection package to have your loved ones remembered.

THE PARALYTIC MAN

The Church shows us that just as the poor paralyzed man was healed after thirty-eight years of sickness, so every sinner can be spiritually cured from his sins and infirmities, if he turns with faith to the risen Christ. The Holy Fathers of the Church affirm that the bathing-pool, which was named Bethesda in Hebrew, represents the Sacrament of penance.
Penance is a sacrament in which the priest, in the name of God, forgives sins committed after baptism when the sinner is heartily sorry for them, sincerely confesses them and is resolved to amend his life and to perform the penance imposed upon him by the confessor.

The Mid Pentecost
On Wednesday after the Sunday of the Paralytic, which falls exactly in the middle of the Pentecost season, that period between Easter (the Resurrection) and the feast of the Pentecost or Descent of the Holy Spirit, The Eastern Church celebrates the feast of Mid-Pentecost which may mean “Half Way” because it is the half-way mark between the feast of Easter and the feast of the Pentecost, or “Middle Wednesday” since it falls on the Wednesday in the middle of the Pentecostal season. The Synaxary of that day explains the reason for the institution of this feast: “On the Wednesday of the Paralytic we celebrate the feast of Mid-Pentecost for the sake of honoring the two great feast days – Easter and the Pentecost. The feast of Mid-Pentecost has an eight day post-feast which lasts to the Wednesday after the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman.
The feast of the Mid-Pentecost aims to strengthen our faith in the risen Christ, to inspire us to observe the commandments of God and to predispose us for the feast of the Ascension of our Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
The feast of the Lord’s Ascension always falls on a Thursday, on the fortieth day after Christ’s resurrection. This is one of the principal feast days of our Lord and therefore, has a post-feast of nine days. It celebrates the memory of Christ’s Ascension into heaven and underscores its significance for Christ and for us.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn the week of
April 16 – 23 by Dave & Mary Youells in memory of vtheir daughter Christine Youells.
MANY OPENINGS FOR THE SANCTUARY LIGHT ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR REQUESTS.
PARISH COUNCIL: The Parish Council will meet Thursday, April 28th at 6:30PM in the church hall.
SVIACHENE: Sunday, April 24th at 2:00 PM is our After Easter dinner. This Sunday April 17th is the deadline for tickets. The tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children under 12. The dinner will consist of a Roast Beef platter: home style of ham, kielbasa, mushrooms, red beets, bread & butter, dessert and beverage. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Gifts are still needed for the Chinese Auction. Your donation in any way to help with this affair will be greatly appreciated. Baked goods and dessert are needed and I am sure our faithful will provide.

EASTER DINNER: Father Paul Wolensky and the Parish Families of Saint Vladimir Church of Edwardsville and Saints Peter & Paul Church of Wilkes-Barre, cordially invite you to their annual joint traditional Easter Dinner “Sviachene” Celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection, taking place on Sunday, May 1st, 2016, beginning at 3:00 p.m. in the lower dining hall of Ss. Peter & Paul School Building, corner of West Chestnut and North River Streets in Wilkes-Barre. Our delicious traditional Ukrainian Easter foods will be served, along with a hot dinner buffet, including Baked Chicken and Chicken Tenders.
There is no charge to come to the Easter Dinner – instead, a free-will offering will be graciously accepted. Advance reservations must be made by April 24th, by calling: St. Vladimir’s Kitchen 570-287-9718, or Ss. Peter & Paul Kitchen. Christ is Risen! Christos Voskres!

PARISH COUNCIL: The Parish Council will meet Thursday, April 28th at 6:30 PM in the church hall.

SVIACHENE: April 24th at 2:00 PM is our After Easter dinner. If you are planning to attend PLEASE purchase your tickets, the tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children under 12. The dinner will consist of a Roast Beef platter: home style of ham, kielbasa, mushrooms, red beets, bread & butter, desserts and beverage. The deadline for tickets is Sunday, April 17th; tickets will not be sold at the door. Gifts are still in need for the Chinese Auction. Your donation in any way to help with this affair will be greatly appreciated. Baked goods and desserts are needed and I am sure our faithful will provide.

WOMEN’S SOCIETY: The regular monthly meeting of the Parish Women’s Society will be held on Tuesday, April 12th, 6:30 PM in the church hall. Final preparation will be made for the Dinner on April 24th. Please members be present.

LOTTERY TICKETS: Only a few weeks before the Lottery for May begins. If you did not purchase your chance to win, now is the time.

Sunday, April 10 Sunday of the Myrr Bearing Women
8:30 AM God’s Blessings on all Parishioners

When I am lonely and perhaps I feel despair, Let not my ailing heart forget that YOU hear every prayer…
Remind me that no matter what I do or fail to do, There still is hope for as long as I have FAITH in YOU…
Let not my eyes be blinded by some folly I commit, But help me to regret my wrong and make amends for it.
Inspire me to put my fears upon a hidden shelf, And in the future try not to feel sorry for myself.
Give me the restful sleep I need before another dawn,
And bless me in the morning with THE COURAGE TO GO ON.

SANCTURY LIGHT: The sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week April 2 -9 by The Halloways for God’s blessings for good health of Carole Kane.

ALTAR CANDLES: The Altar candles will burn in the month of April for Francis Bencho requested by her daughter Becky Molecavage.

SVIACHENE: April 24 will be the date of our After Easter dinner. Please if you are planning to attend, purchase you tickets, the tickets are $15 for adults and $;8 for children under 12. The deadline for tickets is Sunday, April 17th; tickets will not be sold at the door. Gifts are still in need for the Chinese Auction. Your donation in any way to help with this affair will be greatly appreciated. Baked goods and dessert is needed and I am sure our faithful will provide.

THANKS: Our sincere thanks to all who participated in the beautiful services celebrated for the Holy Week and Easter. We also thank Mike Kane and the choir for helping in the singing of the Resurrection Divine Liturgy and to all who participated in the procession and helping in any way to make the services go so well. Thanks to Father Popyk for conducting our many services.

Speak to God openly and honestly from your heart
and then do not allow yourself to worry.
Lord, You are my protection and my provider
when I put forever and ever. Amen
my trust in Yo
Why do we stand, and not kneel, from Easter to Pentecost
In the tradition of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, it is wrong to kneel at anytime from Easter to Pentecost. Despite the fact that other churches do it or “visitors…are surprised” does not change the fact that kneeling is not proper during this time.
In the Ukrainian Catholic Tradition, the action of kneeling and prostrating is a penitential posture. It is the position of a sinner seeking forgiveness. It is NOT a position of adoration (as it is in the West). This is why it is practiced so often in the Lenten season.
Standing (the proper position of adoration in the East) on the other hand, in the Ukrainian Catholic Tradition, is the position of giving praise and thanks to God in the spirit of joy and happiness. During the Paschal Season (Easter to Pentecost), the time for repentance, and fasting, is over. It is the time of our salvation for “Christ is Risen!” We express our joy, thanksgiving and adoration for this fact and the fact that we who have “…been baptized into Christ and put on Christ” have also risen with Him. It is for this reason that kneeling is improper during this holy season. To kneel during this season is to imply that you do not accept the resurrection of Christ. By standing for all prayer, (even private before and after services) you are demonstrating, in a bodily way, that you believe that “Christ is risen from the dead, and by death He has trampled death and to those in the graves He has granted life.” You are not being irreverent by standing. Remember that kneeling is not a sign of adoration in the eastern Tradition.

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ST. THOMAS APOSTLE

This Sunday is called “Tomyna Nedilia” or Sunday if St. Thomas. It commemorates the conversion of St. Thomas the Apostle. Thomas had almost completely lost faith in Jesus, when the Jews crucified the Lord. After Christ’s resurrection Thomas refused to believe it unless he himself saw and touched Jesus. Christ condescended to his wish, appeared and convinced him of His glorious resurrection.
By this feast the Church wishes to show us the reality of Christ’s resurrection which Thomas’ unbelief established beyond any doubt.

ANYONE WHO CANNOT WALK THE PROCESSION – PLEASE,
YOU MUST LEAVE THE CHURCH AND STAY OUTSIDE BY THE DOOR.
THE EMPTY CHURCH REPRESENTS THE EMPTY TOMB OF OUR LORD. THANK YOU.

A Tale of Two Easters
Why one faith and two celebrations?
Easter is not only a movable holiday but a multiple one: in most years Western Christian churches and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter on different dates. In 2016, for example, Easter will be celebrated on March 27 by Western churches and May 2 by Orthodox churches. But in 2014, the two celebrations occurred on the same date, April 20.
The theological inconsistency of two Easters has remained a thorny problem for the Christian Church. “It has long been recognized that to celebrate this fundamental aspect of the Christian faith on different dates,” states the World Council of Churches, “gives a divided witness and compromises the churches’ credibility and effectiveness in bringing the Gospel to the world.”
The formula for Easter—”The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox”—is identical for both Western and Orthodox Easters, but the churches base the dates on different calendars: Western churches use the Gregorian calendar, the standard calendar for much of the world, and Orthodox churches use the older, Julian calendar.
The Western church does not use the actual, or astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date (March 21). And by full moon it does not mean the astronomical full moon but the “ecclesiastical moon,” which is based on tables created by the church. These constructs allow the date of Easter to be calculated in advance rather than determined by actual astronomical observances, which are naturally less predictable.
This division between the Eastern and Western Churches has no strong theological basis, but neither is it simply a technical skirmish. As the World Council of Churches has noted, much of Orthodox Christianity is located in the Middle East, where it has frequently been the minority religion, and in Eastern Europe, where until recently it faced hostility from communist governments.
The emphasis on honoring tradition and maintaining an intact religious identity was therefore crucial. Seen in this context, changing the rules governing its most important religious holiday chisels away at the foundations of an already beleaguered religious heritage.
Legend of the Dogwood An old and beautiful legend says that, at the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: ”Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross ~ two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints ~ brown with rust and stained with red ~ and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember.”

Easter Is The Gift… Easter is the gift of HOPE Easter is the gift of PEACE Easter is the gift of LOVE Let us rejoice in Him, Who gives them all. May God bless you at Easter, And keep you all year through. May God give you all the faith it takes, To make your dreams come true. May His love and wisdom always help, To guide you on your way. May His light shine down upon you now, To bless your Easter Day.
SANCTUARY LIGHT: NO Request…..

FLOWERS: A Large Bouquet of flowers is donated this week by James Bruce Fromel in memory of his mother Mrs. Julia Fromel.

THANKS: Our thanks to all who were so kind to donate their time for the preparation of our church services and helping in any way to make this Holy Season joyous for all to give praise to our Risen Christ.

SVIACHENE: Our Sviachene (Easter Dinner) is being held on Sunday, April 24, 2016 in our Church Hall at 2:00 PM. Tickets are available the cost is $15 for adults
and $8 for children under 12. Bring your family and friends for this dinner to celebrate the Easter Season. Deadline for tickets is April 16th. Chairman of the Chinese Auction is Mary Ann Kachinko. Your donations will be appreciated.

MAY LOTTERY: The May Lottery Tickets are available. If each parishioner would be so kind to purchase at least 5 tickets it would be a big help in reducing the amount that has to be sold. Mike Sinko does a great job of going to the neighborhood businesses to sell what he can. For $5 you have a chance every day in May to win with the evening number.

Sunday, March 27 No Services
Bright Monday – March 28 – 4:30 PM – Divine Liturgy – Myrovania
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SATURDAY OF LAZARUS
Saturday before Palm Sunday
Jesus Christ wrought many miracles during His lifetime abut none was so rich in its effects as the resurrection of Lazarus.
This miracle marks the apex of Christ’s self-revelation. The magnitude of this miracle and the publicity attending it were the immediate causes of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
May this great and wonderful miracle of the resurrection of Lazarus strengthen also our faith in the divinity of Christ and in our own personal resurrection. That same Christ, who raised the four-day Lazarus from the dead, in His own time, will raise us also to a life of eternal happiness. He Himself assured us of this when He said: “I am the Resurrection and Life. Whoever believes in me, even though he die, shall live!”

PALM SUNDAY
The festival of the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem is one of the oldest feast days in the Eastern Church.
In our liturgical books this day is called, “Sunday of the Palms”, “Flower or Blossom Sunday”, “Flower or Blossom-bearing Sunday”. Our people call this Sunday the “Sunday of Pussy-Willows or Willow Sunday. All these names are associated with the custom of blessing and distributing palm on that day in church. Because no palm or olive trees grow in our country, we have a venerable custom of using willow branches, a tree that is the first to blossom in the spring.
The spiritual meaning of Palm Sunday
The Jews wanted to see their messiah in power and glory. According, Jesus Christ, by raising Lazarus from the dead and by His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, gave them clear proof of His power and glory. When He entered Jerusalem, all the city was thrown into commotion saying: “Who is this?” But the crowds kept on saying: “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.’”
The honor given to Christ lasted for only a brief moment, for His betrayal by Judas, His rejection by the people, His condemnation by the Jewish leaders, His passion, the way of the cross and crucifixion followed in quick succession. These very same people who, on Sunday cried out, “Hosanna”, within a few days would be crying out: “Crucify Him.”
Palm Sunday teaches us the instability of worldly glory and the vanity of earthly happiness. Joy and sadness here on earth are two inseparable sisters. Therefore, if we wish one day to have a share in the triumph of Christ in heaven, we must first undergo a Passion Week and a Golgotha with Him here on earth. Only then, will we be able, like Him, to enter into everlasting triumph, joy and resurrection
Finally, my brothers, your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise. Live according to what you have learned and accepted what you have heard me say and seen me do. Then will the God of peace be with you.

SANCTUARY LIGHT: The Sanctuary Light is requested to burn this week March 19-26 by Albert Ferkel in memory of his parents Albert and Catherine Ferkel.

HOLY WEEK – Please remember that help is needed to participate in the Holy Week services. Holy Thursday, 4:00 PM, Good Friday, 1:00 PM and Resurrection Services Holy Saturday, 6:00 PM. Help will be needed to set up the grave after the Holy Thursday services. Try to lend a helping hand. Sign up sheet is in the vestibule for Adoration. Time to spent with God. Give an hour of your time for HIM.

SVIACHENE: Our Sviachene (Easter Dinner) will be held in our Church Hall 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 24th, 2016. Tickets are available, $15 for Adults and $8 Children (8-12). This is a very nice way to have our Parish Family come together in fellowship. The menu will be a little different this year – a Roast Beef Platter w/mashed potatoes and a vegetable will be served individually with a family style of Ham, Kilbosi, red beets, mushrooms, relish tray, paska and butter, eggs and dessert and beverage. Please do your best to make this date available to come and celebrate. Bring your family and friends. Donations of gift item will be greatly appreciated for a Chinese Auction and we ask our great dessert makers to make any dessert you wish to donate. We are always noted for the good food and desserts here in our parish.

THANKS: Our thanks to those who brought the Willow branches and all who helped tie the Palm & Branches. Your help is always appreciated. Also to the men & women who came to clean the church this week. God’s blessing to all.

Please sign up for the Adoration of the Grave. The schedule is in the vestibule; try to spend at least one hour with Our Lord. Your cooperation is needed and will be greatly appreciated